A recent Trenton Central High Graduate was shot and killed while attending a party Saturday night.
Tierra Green, 19, died after suffering a gunshot wound to the stomach on the 600 block of West State street. The shooting also left two others wounded. A woman who declined to give her name, but identified herself as a cousin of Green said she had been planning to go into nursing school.
"She just graduated and had plans for herself," the woman said while waiting outside the trauma center at the Capital Health Regional Medical Center. "There's no way she could have been the intended target."
According to a family member of the victim, Green was at the party when a car pulled up and fired numerous shots into the crowd. A woman was shot in the back while another man was struck in the buttocks while trying to shield one of the victims. At the crime scene, approximately 12 evidence cones could be seen near the Rowan Towers Housing Project, indicating either spent shell casings or live rounds were found by police. The surviving victims currently remain in stable condition, Sgt. John Zappley said. The homicide took place less than a mile away from the police substation on Hermitage Avenue and Artisan Street.
Police have made one arrest in connection with the homicide. Alphonso Thompson, 24, faces charges for weapons offences, but currently has not been charged with homicide, Zappley said. The investigation remains ongoing.
Extended family for all three victims remained outside Capital Health for hours after the shooting Sunday morning waiting for status updates for the surviving victims, noting the recent incidents of bystanders getting caught in the crossfire.
"It's getting worse, it's the summer, so you have everybody outside," a woman waiting outside said.
Last week on June 9, 61-year-old Berkley McDaniel was shot and killed on the 400 block of Stuyvesant Avenue. Police said he and another man wounded at the scene were innocent bystanders.
Green is the city’s 17th homicide victim this year. Earlier in the weekend, Rayshawn Ransom was taken off life support after being shot in the head and chest on the 100 block of Passiac Street.
"This isn't another scene from 'Boyz n the Hood,' this is real life," Green's cousin said. "That's three more families affected by all this violence."
Anyone with information regarding the homicide can call the Trenton Police confidential tipline at (609) 989-3663 or the Crime Stoppers tipline at 609-278-8477.
Those wishing to text a tip regarding the homicide can send a message labeled TCSTIPS to Trenton Crime Stoppers at 274637.